The coatings industry is one of the most heavily regulated industries in the world, so producers have been forced to adopt low-solvent and solventless technologies in the past 40 years, and will continue to do so. The number of coatings producers is large, but most are regional producers, with only 10 or so large multinationals. Most of the large multinationals have expanded operations in fast-growing areas like China. The most noteworthy trend has been consolidation, especially among the largest producers. After a decade of steady growth, production in Asia accounts for 50–55% of the total. Production and consumption are nearly identical in each country, as trade is limited to relatively small quantities of high-value product. Generally, coatings grow in tandem with the economy, so growth will continue to focus on the developing world.